Trip down memory lane for John Lewis of Hungerford founder

HALF-a-century after launching his business empire in the town, John Lewis has made a nostalgic return to Hungerford.

Mr Lewis, who owns John Lewis of Hungerford (JLH) kitchen and furniture stores nationwide, started off in a workshop in Hungerford in 1972.

He said: “Fifty years ago, on August 6, I came to Hungerford for the first time and found the building where I would start my kitchen business.

“I met an estate agent called David Roberts who said he had an old building which I could rent for £2.50 a week.

“After initially living in a tiny cold and damp caravan, Paul Good and his lovely family in Kintbury invited me to stay with them until I got settled.”

He added: “Peter and David Liddiard let me store some wood in their barn on the Bath Road and all the local people were kind to me, especially the late Bryan Geater.

“In 1973 I moved my workshop to the old Oakes Bros Forge in Park Street and in 1975 took a momentous decision to rent a beautiful new shop from John Newton in the High Street.

“I’ve experienced every emotion from the bottom to the top in building my business, but have loved it.”

On Friday, Mr Lewis took a trip down memory lane and had dinner in The Three Swans Hotel with his employee and friend Lee Shaw.

Mr Lewis said: “Lee has worked with me for 34 years since he was 16.

“Lee now runs the production side and is the most special JLH person.

“We are still a small company, but have influenced kitchen design all over the world and have made kitchens for people as far afield as America, Australia and New Zealand.”